Automobile



a w25. 1,524,983 G. A. LYON AUTOMOBILE BUFFER CONSTRUCTION AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME Filed May 9, 1925 Patented Feb. 3, i925.

GERGE ALBERT LY'Q'N, OF. BHILAD'ELBHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTDIQBILE BUFFER CONSTR'UCTXQN AND l-RGCIl-LSS OF -MAKING THE SAME.

.Application filed Eday 9, 1923. Serial N0. 637,670.

T0 all whom. t may concern.'

' Be it lniown that I, ,Gannon rnnnnr Lyon, a citizen ,of the YUnited States, and resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have made a( certain new and useful invention Relating to Automobile ,Buffer Constr-notions and -Processes of vlilaking Athe Same, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part ,ofthe same.

This application is a partial continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 632,076, filed April la, and contains subj ct matter taken therefrom This invention relates .to automobile buffers or bumpers in which one or more of the adjustably connected buffer frontl eleniiernts may advantageously vbe formed of relatively wide thin strip such as yspring steel one and three-eighths of an inch thick more or less, which may be bent-'edgewise to a greater or less extent. and thenmore or less conica-lly bent or otherwise formed las by being diagonally folded to form a trans versely extending' connector portion and several integrally connected trtnsversely separa-ted strip members which may be oppositely inclined adjacent 1the connector portion and extend in the saine or lopposite directions therefrom. Such a buffer element may be advantageously used at the vlateral ends of the b ntl'cr adjacent the automobile wheels and in such cases the transverse connector portion may have it-s diagonal folds arranged at substantially right angles to each other so that two transversely separate-d strips extent. horizontally inward from this connector portion to forni a double height or double strip bulier element -which may extend inward to or past the center of the bull'- er, if desired, and be adjustably or ,otherwise joined in overlapping reenforcing position with similar horizontal strip members which are joined by a transverse diagonally folded connect-orportion ,at the. other side or end of theibuffer. Such-a laiifer front may be supported in any desired way and a spring steel strip supporting attaching member may be arranged to be connect-ed to the .two frame ends and have forwardly extending connecting portions secured to these buffer 4front strip members on each side of the center of the buffer front .and within a foot or so of the buffer ends so that these transverse connector portions at the bulfervends are not subjected to excessive stra-ins which are largely transferred `from each of lthe front strips directly to the connected buffer supporting member which is considerably wider than the vertical separation between the front strips.

In Ithe accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrannnatic way various illustrat-ive embodiments of this invention- Fig. l is a front view of an illustrative buffer.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof.

F ig. 3 is a. detail v iew showing a partially edge bent buffer strip.

Figs. l and 5 show the ends of buffer elements made therefrom.

Fig. G shows another partially edge bent strip, Yand Figs. 7 land 8 the corresponding ends of buffer elements.

Fig. 9 is a gradually edge bent strip, and

Fig. l0 a4 buffer element made by folding the same.

ln the illustrative buffer shown in Figs. l and 2 thebuffer front may be formedk of ,two elements of relatively wide thin spring steel strip which may be hardenedand tempered, if desired. One of these velements may comprise the vertically ortransversely separated front strips l and 6 connected lat vthe buffer end by` an integral connector portion et which may have apartialedge bend and two angular or subst-antially diagonal folds 3, which together space the lioriontally extending buffer front strips at `the desired distance apart between their .adjacent edges 26 and hold the-m at least throughout the strip ends .which form the centra-l part of the buffer in substantial vertical alignment, if desired. The other buffer front element may comprise the (vertically separated substantially parallel strips 8, 9 and similar integral connector portion el; and these front strips may more or less overlap each other and be adjustably or otherwise connected as by suitable clamping devices ll which may be arranged adjacent the ends 2, 7 and 9, l() of.theseoverlapping strips. lt is desirable to have the supporting or attaching members securely connected to both theupper and lower strips on each side of the center of the buffer front and preferably adjacent the ends which may, of course, eX- tend into protective position adjacent the automobile wheels. For this purpose the supporting or attachingmembers may advantageously be formed with relatively wide inturned connecting portions 13, 19 which may more or less overlap both the vertically displaced buffer front strips and be rigidly connected or clamped thereto by the clamping devices which may comprise the clamping bolts 12. If desired, the entire supporting members may be formed of spring steel strip and may include a transversely extending brace bar portion 16 so as to be conveniently and securely connected to the frame ends of the automobile while suitable curved portions such as 17, 1S and 14, 15 may increase the resilient cushioning action of these supporting members, if desired.

Such buii'er front elements may be conveniently made by giving the buffer strips a partial edge bend so that the div-erging strip ends are preferably in the same plane. As shown in Fig. 3, the wide :dat steel strip may have its connector portion 4 suitably heated and then given an edge bend around forms so that this partial edge bend has a curvature of about 750 which ina-,kes the strip ends diverge at about an angle of 105O from each other. A comparatively small degree of curvature may thus be given in the partially edge bent connector portion without unduly straining or distorting the metal even when the radius of curvature is relatively small so that the inner and outer curved edges 21, 22 of this partial edge bend are relatively short radius curves. Such partially edge bent buffer strips 20 may then be folded or more or less conically bent to bring the diver-ging strip ends into the desired closely spaced substantially parallel position in which at least the strip ends may be in substantial transverse or vertical alignment with each other. This may be accomplished `as shown in Fig. 4 by forming diagonal or angular bends 3, 5 in the strip adjacent the partially edge bent connector 4 so that the strip ends 1, 6 extend in the opposite direction from the connector portion or its outer edge 22 as compared to the diverging strip ends of the blank 20. As shown in Fig. 3, these diverging strip ends extend to the left of the connector portion 4 while after these diagonal or angular folds 3, have been formed, the strip ends 1, 6 extend to the right as shown in Fig. 4, without reversing the position of the edge bend 4. In some cases it is unnecessary to form close diagonal or angular folds for this purpose and more gradual or long radius bends or folds 3, 5 may be formed which may in some cases become more or less a somewhat flattened conical bend with advantage. It is also desirable where these angular folds are somewhat gradual bends to have them support the ad- `jacent portions of the front strips in oppositely inclined position as is shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and this causes a slight rearward inclination of the end of this buffer front element, the strips being oppositely twisted to a slight extent Where it is desired to bring them into substantial vertical or transverse alignment. Fig. 5 shows another method of bending or shaping such a partially edge bent strip or blank as is shown in Fig. 3, and in this Fig. 5 construction each of the strips is turned or folded transversely inward toward each other as by the folds 23, 24 so that the strip ends still extend in the same direction from the connector portion 4 or its outer edge 22 as the diver-ging strip ends did before forming these oblique or inclined folds which may bring the adjacent edges of the front strips 25 into the desired substantially parallel relation to each other. In either of these ways the front strips of these unitary buffer elements may be brought together to within one to four or five inches more or less, as desired, and a strong and reliable integral connector portion may thus be readily bent out of the spring steel strip by hot bending around forms or by die forging operations so as to produce uniformly shaped elements quickly and efficiently.

Fig. 6 shows another form of partially edge bent buffer strip in which the amount of curvature of the connector portion. is considerably greater than in Fig. 3. In Fig. 6 the diver-ging strip ends 2S, 29 may form an angle of about with each other so that the partially edge bent connector portion 30 thus has a curvature of about 1200. These buffer strip blanks 27 may be finished by suitable angular or diagonal. bending operations as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 so as to secure the desire-d transverse separation between the front strips and bring them into vertical or transverse alignmentI to the desired extent. In Fig. 'i' two angular folds 33, 34 are formed in the strip on each side of the edge bent connector portion 30 so that these connected strip ends 2S, 29 may be securely supported with their edges 35 at the desired distance apart. This forms a good design of buili'er front element for such spacing as two or three inches between the edges of the parallel front strips. Fig. S has a lighter an-d more tapered contour in the end of the buli'er element because of the more nearly parallel position of the angular bends or folds 36, 38 which. are formed on each side of the partially edge bent connector portion 30. By forming these folds relatively near the central part of this edge bend part of the outer curved edge 31 may be utilized as the inner adjacent edge 3.() of these inwardly folded strips which gives a decidedly distinctive appearance to this unitary buffer element. Of course the radii of curvature of the outer and inner edges 31, 32 of these partially edge bent connector portions 30 may be. given any suitable value lill) ein `Widely which is proper, .considering :the thickness.

and Width ot :the stripv ,use-d, and for some purposes it is somewhat better to have a rather sharp curvature avith 4such a-.construction as is shown lin F ig. 8although` it is. not of course. necessary in all cases.

It is sometimes advantageous to form buffer elements or strips of vvide lthin .spring steel with. a complete gradual or long radius edge lbend as shoivn in Fig. 9, so, as to bring the strip ends Lil, into parallel, although eparated position with respect to each other. lilith relatively thin Wide .strip and edge bent connector portion e2 may be bent into. semi-circular forni vwithout undesirable weakening or distortion when :the radii olt curvature are si-v to ,eight inches more or less, depending ot course on ythe heats and bending methods employed. Such a .blank et() may have its strip ends bent .or 'folded' inward toward eachother as shown in Fig. l0 so as to bring 'the .inner portions of these trent strips eel, `into 'parallel transversely aligned position, iQdesi-.rech with their inner edges three -ito `live ,inches apa-rt. In this Way the insvardly curved or ,extending portions e7, otf the /stripaadjacent the connector portion (l2 are part of the edge bend and serve to carry Ithe igliront strips inward into closer spaced parallel position as indicated. `In this way :only Aa part of the complete gradual' edge bendsmay be utilized between the folds .46, f8 -ivhich may be more or less parallel in this instance, this depending oi course ,on the .degreeiotl separation desired between the :iront strips and ,the amount and sharpness ofthe edge bend originally given to the Lblanlf.

This'invention has been described in iconnection With-a number of illustrative Iforms, proportions, parts, arrangements, materials, methods of connection and use, to thedetails ot which disclosure the .invention is `not ot course to be limited, since `what is claimed as ncvv and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set 'forth yin the appended claims:

l. lhe automobile butter comprising tivo adjustably connected elements formed ,of Wide thin steel strip vand each lcomprising vertically spaced horizontally extending portions and an integral connector portion .of

the strip partially edge bent and dia-ving an angular diagonal fold on each side `ol' the center of the edge bend at the end ,ot' the element 1holding the horizontally ,extending vertically spaced -portions otftlie ystrips in substantial vertical alignment.andervithth'eir adjacent edges about two to `,tive inches apart and steel strip supporting attaching members adapted to be secured to the automobile frame and having Vlaterally .extending `inturned ends rigidly secured ,to bot-li vvertically sepa ated portions est each of said elementsadjacent the ends of said butter trent.

`2. 'llhe automobile ybutter comprising tivo adjustably connected elements formed olf avide thin steelv strip land each comprising vertically spaced Ihorizontally extending poitions and an integral connector portion ot @the vstrip partially edge bent and having a angular told on each side ot the center ot' the edge bend at the end o'r the element holding the horizontally extending vertically spaced portions of the strips with their `adjacent edges about two to tive inches apart and attach-ing members .adapte d to be secured -to the automobile frame and having laterally extending inturned ends rigidly secured to .said elements adjacent the ends ot said butter front.

8. The. automobile butler comprising tivo connected elements vformed of-ivide thin steel strip and each comprising vertically .spaced horizontally extending :portions and an integral connector portion ,of the strip partially edge bent and yhaving an angular y'told on each side of the center of the edge bend at the end of the element holding the hori- -zontally extending vertically spaced portions ofthe strips in closely spaced substanytial vertical alignment adjacent the center ofthe buffer front, and steel strip .attac-hing ymembers adapted tobe secured `ito the automobile frame and having laterally Iextending portionsrigidlysecured to both ,vertically separated portions or' said elements .adj acent'the ends ot said butler front.

l. The automobile buffer comprising tivo connected elements formed of wide thinsteel strip and each comprisingl vertically spaced portions and an integral connector portion loit) the strip partially edge bent and having an angular told on each side ot' the center oft the edge ybend at the end of the element holding the vertically spaced portions ot the ystrips in closely spaced substantial vertical alignment,adjacent the center ot the butter liront, and attaching members adapted to be secured to t-he automobile traine and having portionsk rigidly secured to both verticallyv separated portions `ot said elements.

5. The automobile butter compri. 'ng a pair of adj ustably connected elements yformed oit rWide thin steel strip and each comprising `vertically spaced portions and an integral connector rportion ot the strip partially edge bent and having ,an angular told on each side of the center of ythe edge bend at the ,endotthe element holdingtjhe adjacent vertically spaced portions with their adjacent fed-gesabout two to live incues apart and-arranged in oppositely inclined angular iposition, said vertically spaced portions vbeing oppositely twisted adjacent said .connector i portion and attaching' members adapted to be secured to the automobile `traine and having laterally extend-ing iuturned |`end :portions rigidly secured to both vertically separated portionsot.' said elements.

6. The automobile buffer comprising a pair ot adjust-ably connected elements formed ot Wide thin steel strip and each comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having an angular told on cach side of the center of the edge bend at the end of the element holding the adjacent vertically spaced portions in oppositely inclined angular position, said vertically spaced portions being oppositely twisted adjacent said connector portion and attaching members adapted to be secured to the automobile rame and having portions rigidly secured to both verticali)T separated portions of said elements.

7. The automobile butter comprising a pair of adjust-ably connected elements formed of wide thin steel strip and each comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having an angular bend on each side of the center ot the edge bend at the end oi? the element holding the adjacent vertically spaced portions in oppositely inclined angular position, said vert-ically spaced portions being oppositely twisted adjacent said connector portion, and attaching members adapted to be secured to the automobile frame and rigidly secured to both vertically separated portions of said elements.

8. The automobile butter comprising a pair of adjustably connected elements formed of Wide thin steel strip and each comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral connector portion ot the strip edge bent and having an angular bend on each side of the center of the edge bend at the end of the element holding the adjacent vertically spaced portions in oppositely inclined angular position, and attaching meinbers adapted to be secured to the automobile frame and rigidly secured to said elements.

9. The automobile buffer comprising connected elements torn'ied oi wide thin tempered spring steel strip and each comprising transversely spaced horizontally extending portions and comprising at the end of the element an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having an angular fold on each side ot the center of the edge bend to hold the transversely spaced portions in substantial transverse alignment with their adjacent edges about one to four inches apart, and attaching members adapted to be secured to the automobile frame and having laterally extending connecting portions secured to both transversely separated portions ot said element.

10. The automobile buiier comprising connected elements formed of Wide thin tempered spring steel strip and each comprisling transversely spaced portions and comprising at the end of the element an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having an angular fold on each side of the center of the edge bend to hold the transversely spaced portions in substantial transverse alignment and attaching members adapted to be secured to the automobile frame and having connecting portions secured to both transversely separated portions oit' said element.

11. The automombile butter front comprising two laterally adjustably connected elements formed of Wide thin steel strip and each comprising vertically spaced horizontally extending portions and an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having an angular` fold on each side of the center of the edge bend at the end ot' the element holding the horizontally eX- tending vertically spaced portions ot' the strips in closely spaced substantial vertical alignment adjacent the center of the butler front With their adjacent edges about two to [ive inches apart.

12. The automobile butter front comprising tWo connected elements formed off' Wide thin steel strip and each comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having an angular fold on each side of the center of the edge bend at the end of the element holding the vertically spaced port-ions of the strips in closely spaced substantial vertical alignment adjacent the center of the buer front.

13. The automobile buffer front element formed of Wide thin tempered spring steel strip and comprising transversely spaced portions and comprising at the end of the element an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having an angular fold on each side of the center of the edge bend to hold the transversely spaced portions with their adjacent edges about one to four inches apart, the rear face of the said connector portion and the. ii'ront faces ci the adjacent transversely displaced front portions being polished and nickel plated in contrast to other parts ot' the element.

14. The automobile butter front element formed of Wide thin steel strip and comprising transversely spaced portions and comprising at the end ot the element an integral connector portion ot the strip edge bent and having an angular fold on cach side of the center ot the edge bend to hold the transversely spaced portions.

l5. The automobile buffer element termed of Wide thin tempered spring steel strip and comprising transverse-ly spaced portions and comprising at the end of the element an integral connector portion of the strip partially edge bent and having a diagonal fold on each side ot' the center of the edge bend to hold the transversely spaced strip ends in substantial transverse alignment with their adjacent edges about tivo to four inches apart, the rear face of the said connector portion and the front faces of the adjacent transversely displaced front portions lbeing polished and prominently nished in contrast to other parts of the element.

16. The automobile butter front element formed of -Wide thin steel strip and comprising transversely spaced. portions and an integral connector portion at the end of the element and comprising a partial edge bent portion and angularly folded portions on each side thereof holding the adjacent transversely displaced portions in closely spaced oppositely inclined posit-ions with the strip ends in substantially aligned position, the rear face oit the said connector portion and the front faces of the adjacent transversely displaced portions being polished and prominently finished in contrast to other parts of the element.

l'T. The automobile buffer front element formed of Wide thin steel strip and comprising transversely spaced portions and an integral connector portion at the end of the element and comprising an edge bent portion and folded portions on each side thereof holding the adjacent transversely displaced end portions in closely spaced oppositely inclined positions with the strip ends in aligned position.

1S. The automobile buffer front element formed of Wide thin steel strip and comprising vertically spaced horizontally extending portions and an integral connector portion at the end of the element and comprising a partial edge bent portion and angularly folded portions on eachl side thereof holding the connected vertically displaced portions iu closely spaced substantially vertically aligned position.

19. The automobile buffer front element lformed of Wide thin steel strip and comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral connector portion at the end of the element and comprising a partially edge lient portion and angularly folded portions on each side thereof holding the connected vertically displaced portions in closely spaced position.

20. rthe automobile buffer element formed ot Wide. thin steel strip and comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral connector portion at the end of the element and comprising` a partially edge bent portion and angularly bent portions on each side thereof holding the connected vertically displaced portions in closely spaced position.

2l. The process of forming an automobile buier front element of Wide thin spring steel strip which comprises heating an intermediate connector portion of the strip and forming therein a partial edge bend from which the strip ends diverge in substantially the same plane, forming an angular fold in said strip on each side of the center of the edge bend to bring the end portions of the strip into substantially parallel transversely spaced position in substantial alignment with eacli other, and hardening and tempering the element.

22. rlhe process of forming an automobile bufter front element of Wide thin spring steel strip which comprises heating an intermediate connector portion of the strip and forming therein a partial edge bend from which the strip ends diverge, forming an angular fold in said strip on each side of the center of the edge bend to bring the end portions of the strip into substantially parallel transversely spaced position and hardeniug and tempering the element.

23. The process of forming an automobile buffer front element of Wide thin steel strip Which comprises forming in an intermediate connector portion of the strip a partial edge bend from which the strip ends diverge in substantially the same plane, and forming` an angular fold in said strip on each side of the center of the edge bend to bring the end portions of the strip into substantially parallel transversely spaced position and extending in the same direction from the outside of the edge bend as tlic originally diverging strip ends.

24. The process of forming an automobile buffer element of Wide thin steel strip which comprises forming in an intermediate Connector portion of the strip a partial edge bend from which the strip ends diverge. and forming an angular fold in said strip on each side of the center of the edge bend to bring the end portions of the strip into transversely spaced position and extending in the same direction from the outside of the edge bend as the originally diverging strip ends.

25. The process of forming an autoincbile buffer element of Wide thin spring steel strip which comprises heating the strip and forming in an intermediate connector portion thereof a partial edge bend from which the strip ends diverge in substantially the same plane, forming an angular bend in said strip on each side of the center of the edge bend to bring the end portions of the strip into transversely spaced position in substantial alignment with each other7 and hardening and tempering the element.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

